Statement of the International Women's Conference on APEC

Shalom Center, Manila, Philippines, 15-16 November 1996

Asia-Pacific Women Reject APEC and call for a People-to-People Cooperation

We, the women of Asia and the Pacific Rim, reject APEC because the free
trade policies it promotes blatantly lead to the violation of people's human
rights, loss of democracy and social justice, environmental degradation and
increased impoverishment of peoples.

In the name of trade liberalization, our governments have put the interests
of transnational corporations (TNCs) and international financial
institutions at the expense of the interests of people. Economic growth has
created more inequalities within the countries, and between countries, as a
result of profit-oriented and investment-led policies. Corporations have
pursued cheap labor within the region and the use of unfree migrant labor
has increased dramatically. This pattern of economic growth is unsustainable
and has left environmental devastation in its wake.

APEC will only exacerbate this situation and cause the further
marginalization of peoples, particularly women and children.

The indiscriminate opening up of the economy will heighten unfair
competition, benefit only those who monopolize capital and technology,
marginalize the poor and accelerate the depletion of natural resources.

As a result of trade liberalization, we see large-scale, capital intensive
agroculture, monocropping and changing land use patterns. This has tightened
monopoly control of transnational corporations and their practices of double
standards which in turn have caused the people's loss of control over basic
resources such as land, seed and plant varieties, and fuel.

Through these trade policies, developing countries are obligated to allow
the unrestricted importation of subsidized and cheap food products and
thereby discouraging domestic food production and continue to be subjected
to impositions regarding tariff reduction on the small countries.

This has discouraged massive and rapid conversion of agricultural lands
devoted or suitable to food production to non-agricultural or non-food
production uses.

As a result, we are faced by food insecurity and deleterious changing
patterns of food consumption among our peoples.

Contrary to the general notion that trade liberalization and competition
will open more factories, and create more jobs, we are now looking at
massive unemployment and underemployment especially among women and the
increased exploitation in the informal sector.

Massive displacements because of land conversion and development aggression
continue to force our people to migrate to urban centers or to other
countries. Massive homelessness and migration have destroyed communities and
families, destroying the skills and knowledge base of peoples.

In every country, women are the poorest of the poor. Women are carrying the
brunt of free trade policies which have had a devastating impact on women's
rights. The loss of livelihoods and decreasing control over resources are
increasing women's marginalization.

Unemployment and underemployment of women are forcing many of them into
prostitution, even as the horrendous poverty of women and their families has
led to an explosion in the trafficking in and sexual slavery of women. As
migrant workers, women's exploitation has been further intensified as
receiving countries have refused to protect their rights as workers making
them vulnerable to sexual harassment and increased exploitation. In the name
of so-called free markets, governments have destroyed social programs which
protect women.

Not one of the governments that are part of APEC have a mandate from their
peoples to negotiate anything.

Free trade is bringing about an erosion of democratic rights and the
destruction of democratic institutions as governments are becoming more
authoritarian and dictatorial. New forms of human rights violations are
emerging, and the women of this region unequivocally condemn this agenda.